Trust lends support to local buy-outs

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is throwing its support behind communities buying up and taking charge of local assets.

The organisation believes the ambitious schemes have the power to transform facilities and improve affected areas.

Now the trust, which supports Fife’s former mining areas, has set up a community asset transfer support programme to help people thinking of local buy-outs.

David Wright from the trust said the initiative aims to help local and voluntary groups across 13 former coalfield local authorities in Scotland.

Scottish trustee Nicky Wilson added: “I think this was one of the most informative, and effective meetings of our Coalfields Community Network.

“Community Asset Transfers have come a long way in the 20 years since the trailblazing buyout of the Island of Eigg from an absentee landlord got the process up and running

“We believe Scotland’s legislation has huge potential to help the organisations we support to take over local facilities and transform their impact.

“It was really good to devote a whole networking to this one subject and discuss the issues it raises in real depth.”

Representatives from the Valleyfield Heritage Project, Longannet Initiative Partnership and Kincardine Community Council and Development Trust all took part in recent discussions.